Market Lane

Excellent fresh and delicious food in a casual, cozy setting. Although Market Lane is predominantly a fish restaurant, they have a decent selection for everyone. The fish dishes are exceptionally fresh abs tasty with a slight lean towards pub grub but far more refined. There was only one vegan option for starter and main. However, it was very obviously not an afterthought, and the dishes were innovative, delicious, and presented perfectly. The wine selection is great, and the cocktails are works of art. Service is also unbeatable. A great all rounder with something for everyone.

Service was excellent, our waiters Nick and another young waiter were very kind and attentive. The atmosphere was vibrant and busy, perfect for a Saturday night. The mussels with white wine sauce were some of the best I’ve had in a long time, and the brownie and ice cream dessert was great. My only critique was that my monkfish main was nice but a bit bland, definitely needed a more flavourful sauce as the sauce served with it was a bit plain and didn’t compliment the dish

Had a lovely experience as a small group of 3. The food is excellent, the waiters really, really lovely and the wine that we tried was delicious. We ordered the Hake and Fish and Chips - both dishes were excellent and the amount of food served was generous. Costs: We spent around 28€ per person for a main, bottle of water (shared) and a glass of wine each. Would definitely recommend and come back!

The food let the experience down, for me it was either the lamb or the hake and I settled for the lamb, it looks good but it was bland and fatty that I couldn’t even finish it, one of my friends ordered the hake and that too was bland so I would have been disappointed either way, and our other friend ordered the steak and that was the only food that was okay. My two friends ordered brownies for their dessert and one came out warm and soft as it should and the other one came out cold and hard, I don’t know how they managed to do that. The atmosphere was nice and the staff tried their best but I’m not sure if they were just too busy to clear our table for our next meal or they were giving us all the time in the world to call for their attention, this made us spend more time than we would have. This experience for me was a let down.

We made reservations on line and I didn’t check the confirmation carefully do we showed up a day early but the staff was very welcoming and were able to seat us. I mention it because all the staff was wonderful, welcoming, helpful with the menu, and gave an happy vibe. The food was delicious, beautifully presented and varied. My wife is the Girl from Tangiers in my new book, The Couscous Chronicles so we had to try the Tangier Pastilla as an appetizer. Nadia gave it two thumbs up! (hard to do !) we both had fish, Cod for me and Monkfish for the Gitl from Tangiers. Both met a very high standard, light with intriguing flavours accompanying.

Market Lane in downtown Cork impresses with its set menu, perfect for group dining. Though a bit on the pricey side, the delicious food, generous portions, and warm atmosphere make it worthwhile. The standout dishes were the Monkfish and the dessert—both exceptional and worth the visit. A top spot for a memorable meal in the city!

We went to this restaurant for Sunday lunch and it’s surprisingly huge inside. It was really busy, so I’d definitely recommend booking in advance. The menu had a good selection – I tried the fish curry, which was packed with veggies but I felt it could’ve used a bit more seasoning/flavour. Desserts were great though! The fish and chips looked amazing, so I’d probably go for that next time. The staff were nice, and even though it was busy, service was pretty quick.

So sorry to rate Market Lane so low but I really found their food disappointing. The main problem I found was the lack of taste. I ordered a beer, gratined spinach with garlic and seafood rice. The beer was supposed to be strong but I found it bland. On the battery side. A bit too warm for my personal taste. Spinach's flavor was bland, despite the garlic and the roasted cheese. And not what I had thought they would have been. The rice had a lovely smell but then it was almost tasteless. I added salt, twice. And the only thing I managed to get was to taste the food as salty and still almost tasteless. The rice was overcooked. The prawns were good, the only tasty thing in the set. Looking at the faces of the 2 friends who were with me and their lack of comments I imagine their meal too was just ok. A real shame as the presentation of the place was beautiful, the staff was very nice and super patient with my indecisiveness and the location is lovely, with some tables & benches outdoors kept well warm by individual heaters.

Eh, it was okay. I learned about Market Lane from TikTok which should've been my first clue to find somewhere else to dine, but it was a Monday night and so many of the other spots on my list were closed. I ordered the french onion soup and the steak frites with herbed butter. The french onion soup came out piping hot, too hot to eat. I immediately knew by looking at it that this wasn't going to be the best french onion soup. It looked like someone sprinkled Kraft shredded cheese on top and microwaved it. The flavor was lacking and it needed salt, pepper, and more onion. The steak came with the herbed butter on the side. It was OK but nothing to write home about. I was surprised by this since I know Ireland is supposedly known for their beef and their butter but I felt like I've had better steaks back in the states. The service was friendly and attentive and the ambiance was upscale but homey. I wouldn't rush back to this spot if I find myself in Cork again but it's an OK option for its central location and Monday night hours.

Everything here was delicious! Highly recommend if you're in Cork. I had the filet with the whipped garlic butter which was cooked with perfectly. I also tried the bohemian raspberry which was one of the best cocktails I've had. I love raspberry and loved that the flavor was super authentic and not overly sweet. I also tried the plum sour which was great as well and super pretty: Service was great and restaurant itself is cozy.

Yummy food. Great service. Great location. The restaurant was very nice inside. Highly recommend

We ended up at Market Lane purely by accident. We were looking for a sticky toffee pudding and after checking many places nearby saw that Market Lane had a bread and butter pudding so we thought we would try that. We were so glad we did! Market Lane was a true delight. We sat at the bar and the (I think) head bartender was super friendly and willing to entertain all of our questions. He suggested we pair our dessert with whiskey drinks. I got an old fashioned (maybe the best one I've ever had) and he made a special one of a kind whiskey drink on the spot for my friend who is a little hesitant about whiskey... and she loved it! The service was simply impeccable and we had such an unexpectedly lovely evening. I would recommend Market Lane to anyone visiting Cork! P.s. They also have beer next door from the smallest microbrewery in Ireland. Super cool!

Fabulous food, eat here! The seared mackerel was divine. Fish curry was great. Marinated chicken was tender. The lemon tart was slightly disappointing (good lemon flavor & the blackberry compote was nice) but the tart crust was too thick and not worth the calories. Servers were very nice and the service was fast!

Centrally located in Cork. We saw "Walk in Welcome" sign in front and went in. It seemed to be a popular and busy venue. The prices were okay for a downtown restaurant. The food was finely prepared and quite flavorful. We ordered: 4* Confit Lamb croquettes included cucumber and scattion salad, coriander, toasted sesame, soy and lime dressing. Crispy and delicious, salad was tasty. 4*Pan roast monkfish-golden beets in bernaise sauce, fondant potatoes and green beans: fish was tender, potatoes were great, the best I've had in Ireland. Green beans were Al dents, just right. 4.5*Seafood pasta, mussels, squid, haddock, tomatoes, garlic, orzo pasta, crunchy samphire: a great dish to order, fresh and delicious.

Sat at the bar. Had a Guinness. Ordered the chowder stew -creamy, chunks of salmon, fish and other seafood I couldn't really tell but it was quite delicious. But then my bad I orders a Cesar salad. Ugh, weird. With Lardon- my favorite. The dressing was very mayo tasting no garlic or anchovy flavor. But that's my Italian American foodie opinion. Taste it yourself and then tell me. Chowder was great and beer, service ! Yum oh bread was dry and cold

Had a great time at Market Lane and definitely recommend if you are in Cork. We came here on a Saturday evening with no reservation and was seated quickly. The staff were very friendly. The restaurant looks very modern and is a good size. We were seated on the second floor. We started with the Smoked haddock croquettes with house pickles and lime & dill aioli. For entrees, I had the Pan roast monkfish, creamy curried velouté, fragrant pilaf rice with saffron, cardamom, peas, carrot and toasted almonds and my husband had the Marinated Lamb rump, potato and smoked garlic gratin, honey roast parsnips, pea & mint pistou. All the food was so delicious and flavorful. The portions were also a good size. Unfortunately, we did not have room for dessert but looked great as well.

We had a wonderful evening at Market Lane. Our server was quite new but happily gave us as much info as possible about dishes. I started with the mussels. Large portion and delicious. The broth and accompanying bread are a meal by themselves. I had the baked hake. Served with a beet and potato gratin, the fish was prepared perfectly and the side hot and delicious. Fantastic ambiance and meal!

Delicious food and wonderful staff. Posting my dish bc it was so good and the plate didn't have a picture up!!

Lots of vegetarian options, and the (local) Elbow lager is quite good too. The chickpea panisse has undisclosed green beans, so just an FYI. Enjoy!

Oh my! Stupid great food and service. Great night of excellent food. Wonderful hospitality and beautiful lamb.

Wow! Just...wow. The best meal I've had in a long while. The place is very nice and honestly I thought it was going to be very expensive, but the prices were very reasonable. The food: ridiculously good and lots of local products. I had the house smoked haddock arancini (very good!) and the slow cooked Crowe's bacon collar with mustard glaze, parsnip and scallion mash, carrot purée, and creamy leek sauce with glazed hispi cabbage. OMG best meal all year!!!!! My sister had the French onion soup, which was hearty and delicious. For dessert I had the pot de chocolat (very rich) and she had the brownie, which she said was the best brownie she's ever had...and that's what she always gets. The salted caramel was excellent. Our waitress, Abigail, was super nice and very attentive. She knew the menu and helped steer us in the right direction. Thanks Abbie!!!!! I highly recommend this place and will definitely come back when I return to Cork.

Interesting Irish menu and very friendly servers - the carrot soup of the day in particular was incredible. Mussels in white garlic sauce were also top notch. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting Cork.

Consistently delicious!! Food is always spot on and service follows suit! Fish curry with crunchy rice. Stellar!! Steak sandwich! Out of this word!!! Cocktails. Delectable and well balanced! One of my favourites places that has never dissapointed!! Highly highly recommend!

Everything about this place was top-tier. We had to make a reservation to get in as this is one of the most popular spots in the city. I would definitely recommend visiting this location while in the city as you won't be disappointed with the quality of the food. I went with the lamb which was amazing. My other friend went with the fillet which he also said was very delicious. And my third friend chose the chicken Salad which looked delicious and filling. All of the ingredients were fresh. The staff made us feel welcomed and the environment had great energy. Would definitely retire as the location is in the middle of the bustling city center and features numerous restaurants and shops. Great job market Lane.

Came here with coworkers on business trip. Nice ambience and food. The lamb rump was great . My coworkers in Cork like the beers here. Staff were friendly. Very noisy during dinner even on a weekday night.

The food here is absolutely amazing for lunch! The crispy torn chicken salad was a 10/10! Dessert was also amazing! The bohemian raspberry cocktail was also to die for!

Food was great and nice atmosphere. It's listed as 3 Euro, but I think its actually very reasonable and is actually lower cost than some of 2 Euro options.

I found out too late that there is a quiet, fine dining experience upstairs. Not mentioned when making reserves that will keep 20 Eu pprestaurant if I cancel in less than 48 hours. Downstairs Monday at about 6 pm it is a bustling restuarant/bar scene with screaming kids and folks just off shopping. Seems no one waiter was dedicated to our table. whomever is not busy will come to our table. They're all quite busy. Our order waiter couldn't describe several items on the menu. The apps came at the right time. The muscles and the beetroot tart were delicious. After a long wait for the table to be cleared of the empty app's dishes, I had to flag a passing by wait-person to finally clear it. The steak filet was perfect: soft and delicious. The lamb rump was mushy. After awhile we realized the two sides that wecheck ordered weren't coming. We finally were able to flag one person who said she would check on it and never returned. We flagged another who said he'd check. again not to return. A 4th came by and we told him our plight, he checked and came back to say they would come shortly. After we finished our mains they finally came. Not what the order-waiter guessed it would be. But we ate some of it. The Buttered vegetables on the menu was carrots and sliced potatoes dripping in oil. After a long wait,dessert we were asked about patronsdesert. Not taking a chance. We were given the sides free. Nice touch. There's a note asking patros for feedback. I started to tell the manager who, clearly didn't want feeback.

I was so surprised at the quality of food and service I found in. Cork. I think we had better meals in Cork than we did in Paris. The wait staff was very attentive. Market Lane was highly recommended and did not disappoint.

We were more then happy to grab 3 bar seats and get to know their more then helpful bartender Evan who even gave us a list of places to check out in other towns. Drinks were great and food was amazing. Would definitely go back. I suggest a reservation as they are popular, and totally worth it. I had the curry soup special which was so good everyone was dipping their bread in it. Hubs had the monkfish which was cooked perfectly and my son had the chicken which was delicious.

Bruno is a gem of a waiter. All of his suggestions were outstanding. The Lamb was delicious and zucchini and potato cake was great. The salted caramel brownie was outstanding. The place was buzzing with patrons. I loved seeing all the staff so friendly and attentive. Nice wine list. Make reservations

Had a lovely dinner in Cork here. Great drinks menu. The restaurant is huge with a large upstairs section as well. My wife had a salad and then the mussels. I had a steak. Dessert menu was also good. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Alex was an amazing server!! The bacon collar was amazing and the atmosphere was classy. Would come back

This is my favorite restaurant in Cork and I make at least a couple of visits any time I'm here. I'm often a party of one and normally take a place at the bar. The service is equally attentive at a table or the bar. The soup of the day is always great. If the pork collar is on the menu, get it! My last visit was Nov 2019, can't wait to get back after Covid.

Staying few nights in Cork and came across this restaurant. The food was amazing and the service very good. We sat outside with heaters, so can't comment ion the interior.

Enjoyed lunch at the bar counter on Tuesday. Food: 1. Soup and half sandwich was very tasty. Fair lunch portion. 2. Service. - very professional and courteous service at the bar. 3. Interior- hybrid of modern and trad.

Carefully curated food and fun people watching. Our starter was pork belly, a tasty treat, but that was just the beginning. I went with a seafood cioppino with large pieces of fish, clams and calamari. My husband had the lamb rump...so succulent he would only give me a small bite! We were too full for dessert. I forgot to say, we started off in the bar with a local gin, Bertha's Revenge, which is now our favorite Irish gin! Great street side tables offer the perfect perch for people watching on Oliver Plunkett street in the heart of Cork!

This is an excellent choice for a good quality lunch. Fresh ingredients, tasty and good proportions. Service was prompt and courteous! Reasonable as well.

We walked in on a busy Monday evening without a reservation. We thought we'd have to come back later but after a few minutes we were seated by the bar. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Drinks and food were delicious, satisfying even our vegan son. It was one of the nicest meals of our family's week-long trip.

Should have left this review long ago. I cannot highly recommend this place enough. Service excellent, accommodated elderly guests by seating in a quiet area. We went there for lunch (no reservation). The menu was perfect, accommodating to all; from tasty soup with soda bread, half sandwich (delish) with soup, through full mains; fish, curry, duck. Prices are a little on the high side for mains, but the starters, sandwiches and sides are well priced. Highly recommend.

Super good food. I would defiantly recommend this restaurant. Great area to walk around

Wonderful service and a great menu selection. I've been here multiple times over the years and have never been disappointed

Loved this place. Was open late on a Sunday, walking distance from our hotel. Amazing, friendly, prompt, attentive service......given with a smile!! Our server was lovely & very personable! ALL 3 of our meals were great, and prepared with quality ingredients. I felt the prices were very reasonable for the quality of food we received.

Loved this restaurant! We had such a great experience here - from the food to the service. Appetizer: Mussels Entree: Chicken & Bacon Collar Dessert: Bam Berry My boyfriend and I were both happy with the appetizer and dessert, but the stars were definitely the entrees! The ingredients tasted so fresh and the entrees were so flavorful. The mash on both entrees were some of the best I've had, and the meats were cooked perfectly. Would highly recommend checking this restaurant out! Tip: They don't take reservations for parties less than 6 so get there early to ensure a spot!

The food was top notch, presentation was beautiful and the service was great. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Market Lane is a classy, refined spot for a nice brunch in Cork and was unlike any other place I visited in Ireland. Their menu serves as the placemat and they offer a wide range of high-quality meals. I went with the turkey sandwich, which was topped with delicious, thick-cut bacon. I also requested a side of chips with garlic aioli -- totally failing to remember that I was in Ireland. Obviously they were fries. Fail. Fortunately they were delicious. Unfortunately there were too many for me to eat so I had to leave some behind. The space is rather large. There is an upstairs area, which is where the bathrooms are also located. Very nice bathrooms for sure. They're totally enclosed, which I always appreciate. I wish all bathrooms were like that.

Great food, great service, great menu, great music - highly recommend. Try the gin fizz cocktail and the miso chicken salad for lunch. Note: Everyone seems to be taking social distancing measures seriously and respecting space.

Rotating menu inspired by the freshest Irish ingredients from nearby English market (the irony is unavoidable), inventive cocktails, fun desserts, basically go here if you're ever in Cork. Absolutely my favorite place to eat at when I visit cork for work.

Food 4/5 Drinks 4/5 Service 4/5 (slow) Location 5/5 Plates tried: mussels, filet, & miso chicken salad Drinks tried: elbow lager, the daisy, & watermelon daiquiri Awesome dinner experience. The steak was fantastic but the miso chicken salad was the best dish I tried. I would skip the mussels b/c although the broth was flavorful it didn't impart that flavor on the mussels. Beer was pretty good but nothing special. I tried two cocktails: the watermelon daiquiri 5/5 (awesome, my dad ordered 3 he liked it so much) and the daisy 2/5 (I would not get it again, very bitter). The dessert menu looked so good that I had trouble picking. I ended up trying the orange bread and butter pudding at the recommendation of our waitress and it was mediocre at best. There was a large glob of cream that didn't add much (ice cream would have been better) and the top had a burnt marshmallow flavor that I wasn't into. My family got the ginger cake and the strawberry meringue ice cream, the latter of which was insanely delicious and I regret not getting my own. Overall great experience, my only significant complaint was dinner took 2.5 hrs and I think it should have taken 1.5.

Pimpin good restaurant Great seafood Great location In and outdoor dining Romantic Reasonable prices Open later than most places

Our dinner at Market Lane was one of our best in Ireland. We had a reservation and were seated immediately upstairs in their gorgeous dining room with its outside twinkly lights providing cozy ambiance through the space. Seating is pretty tight but not as bad as many places we've been to. Our waiter was charming and very helpful. We started with a bread basket which came with yummy spreads. My husband had the monkfish which he devoured and I had a filet mignon which was flavorful and perfectly cooked. We shared a delicious bread and butter pudding. Highly recommended!

Found Market Lane through a Yelp search and I'm so glad we went. We were fortunate to find an outside table facing the street and it was a beautiful, sunny day. My daughter had the Th Lychee Martini, Onion Soup and Ploughman's Sandwich. I had the Quiche and added the Lentil Beetroot Salad. I also sampled the local cider. I tasted the French Onion Soup which was delightful...my daughter spilled it after a few bites and the waiter was nice enough to bring her a new bowl. The quiche was LARGE. Although it was pretty good, there wasn't much cheese in it. I think I got a little cheese in the last bite. The highlight for me was the Puy Lentil salad. I would order that every day if I could. The location is prime and a great place to people watch. Seemed like it was mostly locals. Service = A Food = A- Location = A AND...they take Amex....definitely a plus. I would definitely go back.

Exceptional food, solid drinks, fun environment, and beyond-five-star service. Market pane served us one of the best meals, top-to-bottom, that we've had in a while. This place is top ranked in town for a reason. The menu is diverse and complete, offering a variety of elevated Irish fare made with locally-sources ingredients. They have vegan, celiac/coeliac, and dairy-free menus available here. And none of those options distract at all from the absurdly good carnivorous fare they serve here as their primary offering. Nobody will be disappointed by the menu options regardless of how your group leans. The food? Great. I had a bacon shoulder dish and vegetarian French onion soup. Both well worth it. The pork was fork-tender and had deep salt-sugar brine flavor. Served with cabbage it's a new take on an old favorite. Hilary B had a tasty halloumi salad (half-portion FTW!) and a veggie chili with avocado and rice. Sounds basic, however it was anything but. The service really drove it home for us though. From our welcome up front to the attentive server to the bartenders. Everyone was casual, friendly, and professional the whole time. Really great stuff. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to anyone, and will return when in Cork again.

My friend and I visited back in March. My lunch was good I can't remember what I got but my dessert was amazing ! I would definitely recommend stopping in here for a meal.

This was my best meal in a ten day in Ireland. We had the aged fillet and the tuna in miso. Everything on the plate belonged. Decent portions. Watched them make a bunch of awesome desserts. The only thing I was not sure on was the consistency of the rice in the veggy sushi rolls that came with the tuna, it was a bit gritty and pasty, not like good sticky sushi rice, but the flavor was amazing.

If you are driving around the southern loop of Ireland and find yourself in the charming town of Cork around meal time, be sure to stop by Market Lane for a treat. But be prepared to stay a while, not because you have to, but because you want to. There are two levels to this lovely restaurant. Downstairs there is a full bar with a lively crowd whereas the upstairs hosts a quieter more cozy space. The servers are nice but slightly aloof - somewhat of a departure from our experience in Ireland. We came here as a family and were treated as any other adult diners (our preference). Our son was offered the children's menu but we opted for the adult version which had plenty of options. Note to my vegetarian and vegan readers, this place has a menu dedicated to those choosing a plant based diet (brownie points!) We are mussels as appetizer which was bathed in a creamy wine sauce. The mussels are fresh and served with crusty bread. You will want to get a couple more pieces of bread to sop up that sauce (or a big spoon!) I ordered a pan seared sea bass with roasted potatoes and cauliflower purée. The Irish knows there seafood but this dish brings it up a notch! First, most ingredients are sourced locally and second, they are prepared with such mastery, the fish was so tender and buttery to the palate. The cauliflower purée has a tinge of turmeric serving as an unexpectedly delightful companion. We also ordered cauliflower tabouleh as a side. Cauliflower tabouleh is a first for us. This was so good! If I am a true vegetarian, I may have opted for this as a main. My son ordered the Vietnamese braised brisket (this is an app but he ate it as a main). He described the meat as juicy tender and made crunchy with the veggie (frisée). We were just in Vietnam a couple of months ago so we did not expect to get authentic Vietnamese but let me just say, he cleaned the bowel completely. So who cares whether it tastes Vietnamese because it was delicious! After our bellies are full, we were so happy, we decided to order their rhubarb cake to share. It was served quite warm (possibly microwaved for 10 seconds too long) and with a not as warm cream sauce. I ate mine without the sauce but that just meant my husband had doubled the amount on his! My pictures show the meal in all her glory! They have their house brewed beer. My husband tried the Jaw Bone Pale Ale and Wisdom Red Ale. Both were very good. They also have a decent wine selection. Overall the food here is a 5 out of 5. I highly recommend this restaurant. Note that reservations are only for 6+.

Came here with a Tinder date and wow was I impressed. We ordered two appetizers, one entree and 2 desserts. We were stuffed after a few bites from the entree. Maybe my tummy got smaller? The portion sizes weren't even so big! The smoked salmon appetizer wasn't so exciting the the scallops. Oh boy. We loved the scallops. BEST SCALLOPS I'VE EVER HAD. They were so light and they literally melt in your mouth. I could pop a ton of these like popcorn. The flavor and texture and just everything about these. I've just entered the scallop world. WOW. The monkfish entree was decent. Incomparable to the scallops but still good quality. As for the dessert, we had the earl grey creme brulee and an apple cake accompanied by ice cream. The cake was so moist and soft! The look of it was so deceiving. The warm cake was perfectly paired with the ice cream. The cake flavor was so rich too. It reminds me of a chocolate lava cake. The creme brulee wasn't too sweet either. The taste was unique. It's hard to explain the taste of earl grey but it was definitely not a normal creme brulee. Overall, great service, expect a wait, no reservations and you must order the scallops!